Oregonjoneses

ROSEMONT, Ill. — No. 18 Oregon dropped the opening game of its three-game series against Northwestern, 11-3, on a challenging day weatherwise at the Ballpark at Rosemont that saw both teams commit four errors. Up Next: The Ducks and Wildcats play game two Friday at 4 p.m. PT (6 p.m. CT) at The Ballpark at Rosemont, which is the home of the AUSL's Chicago Bandits in Rosemont, Ill. The game will be carried by Big Ten Network.

🦆By a Die‑Hard Ducks Softball Fan Who Believes This Is the Year The 2026 Oregon Ducks softball season feels different — and not just because the roster looks deeper, the bats look louder, and the pitching staff looks downright unfair. It feels different because this program finally looks ready to finish what “Version Seven” started in Oklahoma City. Under Melyssa Lombardi, every year of Ducks softball has been its own “Version” — a unique blend of culture, personality, and identity. Version Seven brought Oregon back to the Women’s College World Series. But Version Eight? This one is built for something bigger. As a die‑hard fan watching this team storm into the season with swagger, grit, and attitude… I can’t help but believe: this version is the one with championship DNA. 🥎 Version Eight Starts on the Rubber — and That’s Why Oregon Can Win It AllOregon’s pitching duo isn’t just good — it’s elite, national‑title‑worthy good. Two aces who dominate different ways Two veterans who’ve pitched in pressure cookers Two leaders who set the tone and the tempo every weekend You don’t win in Oklahoma City with “a decent staff.” You win with fire‑breathers, the kind of pitchers who punch out SEC lineups with runners on and smile doing it. Version Eight has exactly that. And unlike many national contenders, Oregon doesn’t have to wonder what they’ll get from the circle. They know. That stability is gold in postseason softball. 💥 The Lineup? Version Eight Might Be Oregon’s Most Dangerous Offense EverWhat makes this version pop off the page isn’t just the returning star power — it’s the way the old guard and the new blood mesh. This lineup hits for power, sprays line drives, pressures defenses with speed, and grinds out at‑bats. It’s not dependent on one or two stars — it’s dangerous everywhere, in that “no rest for the pitcher” kind of way that separates good teams from Oklahoma City teams. Version Eight brings: Returning home‑run threats Gap‑to‑gap hitters with savvy softball IQ Transfer sluggers who add instant punch Table‑setters with speed and instincts Bench players who would start almost anywhere else This isn’t the kind of lineup that hopes to win. It’s the kind that expects to score six runs every time it laces up. 🧱 Version Eight’s Defense Has All the Ducks in a RowWhat Oregon lost to graduation, it has replaced with: range athleticism and championship‑level fundamentals Version Eight’s infield is sharp, steady, and experienced; the catching corps is the best it’s been in years; and the outfield — even with new faces — feels faster and more dynamic. Defense is the silent factor that decides super regionals. Version Eight’s is built for June. 🔥 Experience Matters — and Version Eight Has It in SpadesThe difference between a team that reaches Oklahoma City and one that wins there often comes down to simple experience: Have you been there? Have you taken the punches? Have you gotten back up? Do you know what that moment feels like? Version Seven gave Oregon that experience. Version Eight is ready to cash it in. Nothing rattles a team that’s already fought the giants under the brightest lights. 🏆 So… Can Version Eight Win the Women’s College World Series?As a lifelong Oregon softball fan, I’ve watched every era — the historic highs, the painful lows, the rebuilds, the culture resets, and now the resurgence. And I’m telling you: Version Eight is the most complete Ducks team we’ve seen since Oregon’s golden era. They have: Pitching to win a best‑of‑three Hitting to erase deficits Defense to survive pressure innings Depth to withstand tournament chaos Coaching that’s learned, evolved, and delivered Experience that can’t be faked Belief — the most important trait of all Oregon has been knocking on the door again. Version Eight isn’t here to knock. They’re here to kick it down. And if the Ducks get back to Oklahoma City — which they absolutely can — I believe this version has everything it needs to bring the trophy home to Eugene for the first time in program history.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 18 Oregon broke the school's single-game scoring record AND came back from a seven-run deficit Monday at Andy Mohr Field. The Ducks (24-8) defeated Indiana 24-12, but the final score doesn't begin scratch the surface of what transpired on a windy Indiana evening. In one of the wildest games in program history, the Ducks: Lost their starting pitcher to an injury after one out in the first inning. Fell behind 7-0 after three innings. Tied the game at 7-7 in the fourth, only to watch Indiana retake the lead, 9-7, in the next half inning. Went head for the first time, 11-9, on Kaylynn Jones' three-run homer in the fifth. Saw not one, but two grand slam home runs – one each by Elon Butler and Emma Cox. Had Butler come within a double of the program's first cycle. Scored their record-breaking 24th run on senior catcher Trinity Holden's first career hit. Also set school record for hits (21) and RBI (23). Won while giving up 12 or more runs for only the second time in program history. "We've just talked a lot and we just know that as long as we have innings to work with, we have the opportunity to come back and win," said head coach Melyssa Lombardi. "I've been saying this for a long time. This is a powerful lineup and you really got to see that today." The Ducks hit four home runs on Monday and also had three doubles and a triple that contributed to the team's record totals in runs, hits and RBI. All nine starters had at least one hit and three set or tied their career highs in RBI. Butler led the way with six – her third six-RBI game of the season, while Cox and Jones both drove in five. "It was fun," said Jones. "I mean, we weren't expecting that start, but all of our girls were not going to let that determine the rest of the game, and we came back as soon as we could with each other side by side, and I just think it's great that we can do that and we're recognizing that." How It Happened: All five walks issued by Oregon in the first three innings came around to score on home runs, a three-run shot in the first and a grand slam in the third, to give Indiana (25-7) a 7-0 lead. Stefini Ma'ake and Ayanna Shaw led the fourth inning off with singles. An out later, Braiesey Rosa's hit to left center scored both runners. Walks to Cox and Katie Flannery loaded the bases for Jones, who made it 7-3 Hoosiers on a sacrifice fly. Butler followed with a two-out triple that scored Cox and Flannery, cutting Indiana's lead to 7-5. Amari Harper made it a one-run game with a single that scored Butler and Ma'ake – making her second plate appearance of the inning – doubled in Harper to tie the game at 7-7. The Hoosiers took their final lead at 9-7 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Taryn Ho got things going with a double leading off the fifth inning. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored when Cox singled to left. Flannery walked for the second time to bring up Jones. She took the first two pitches for balls, but then experienced temporary regret for not swinging at the 2-0 offering. "I got on myself for a second," said Jones. "My dad always tells me never to swing 2-0, and I didn't and it was the fattest pitch ever. So I was ready to crank it again and she gave me that same pitch so it felt good." Jones did not miss on the 2-1 pitch, depositing it well beyond the wall in right field. Her third home run of the season gave the Ducks a lead at 11-9 that they wouldn't relinquish. Oregon scored six two-out runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by Butler's grand slam – her 10th homer of the season – and Harper's eighth long ball of 2026. In the seventh inning, the first three Oregon batters reached ahead of Cox, who hit her first career grand slam which made it 21-11 at that point. An out later, Jones walked and then scored when a throw trying to get Butler at first went into right field. Butler, who went to third on the error, scored Ducks' 23rd run of the game on Harper's sacrifice fly. Oregon reloaded the bases on a hit, a walk and hit batter. Holden, who pinch-hit for Rosa, then slapped a sharp single into left field as her first career hit plated the Ducks' record-breaking 24th run of the game. "I just loved watching her," said Lombardi. "She came up, she was ready to swing. I knew that if she got her pitch, she was gonna hit it hard." Single-Game Records 24 runs, all games, and 24 runs, conference game (previous record 23, vs. Oregon State, March 15, 2015) 21 hits (previous record 20, vs. Saint Mary's, March 7, 1993, and at Rutgers, March 29, 2025) 23 RBI (previous record 21, March 29, 2025) The only other time on record that Oregon won while giving up 12 or more runs was a 23-12 win against Oregon State on March 15, 2015. Notable: The seven-run deficit was the biggest overcome of the Lombardi era. The previous best was six runs against Portland State on April 23, 2019 … Oregon hit two more sacrifice flies on Monday, the program's 21st and 22nd of the season. That's the third best mark in program history and only three off the school record of 25 (2015, 2025) … Lyndsey Grein earned her team-best 14th win of the season … Katie Flannery made her 100th career start at 3rd base … Taryn Ho had the first two-double game of her career. Starter Elise Sokolsky had to exit the game with one out in the bottom of the first due to an apparent injury … Monday's game was a nonconference game. The Ducks and Indiana don't play a Big Ten series this season. Quotable Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi on how the team bounced back from being down 7-0 "Resiliency. That's how I would describe this group. We were down seven to zero at one point in the game, and if you were to look in this dugout, they were extremely loose. They were into the game. They were having good at-bats, knowing that we were going to find a way to come back and win, to see everybody contribute, not just the starters, but also have Trinity come off the bench, Remington (Hewitt), just everybody who came in did something." Up Next: The Ducks begin a three-game series with Northwestern Thursday at The Ballpark at Rosemont, which is the home of the AUSL's Chicago Bandits in Rosemont, Ill.

EUGENE, Ore. – Lyndsey Grein, who threw two complete games to defeat Purdue in West Lafayette twice over the weekend, has been named the Wilson/NFCA Division I National Pitcher of the week, that organization announced Tuesday. The senior from Mokena, Ill., was 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA in the Purdue series. She struck out 20, walked three and allowed one run on eight hits. She held opponents to a .151 batting average. In the series opener on Friday, she threw a four-hit shutout to lead Oregon to a 6-0 victory. She struck out 11 and walked one. Sunday, Grein allowed one run on three hits in the Ducks' 2-1 victory. She struck out eight and walked one and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning. She also threw two scoreless innings in Saturday's game. Grein leads the Big Ten in strikeouts (119) and is 14-3 on the season.

Thanks Charles if feels good to be back Have invited Jack Loe to join us. I leqrned yesterday that he is friends with Steve Fountaine's sister Linda

You arte right, My partner had a long chat with her dad last weekend and we will post about the conversation this week

The Signal is Strong: Pro Softball Arrives in Oregon!Now that I’ve settled into the FishDuck forums, I have to talk about the massive shift in the softball landscape. For those of us who have spent years watching the Ducks, the "professional ceiling" always felt a little far away. Not anymore. The Big News: The Portland CascadeAs some of you may have seen, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) officially announced the Portland Cascade as Oregon's newest professional team! They’ll be playing their home games right up at Hillsboro Ballpark starting this June. For a guy like me who spent years at the OSP dispatch center, I love seeing a local "unit" finally get a home base. No more touring models—we have a team to call our own. The Duck Connection: Paige Sinicki Goes ProThe best part? Our very own Paige Sinicki has officially landed a spot on the Cascade roster! Watching her win the Gold Glove at Oregon was a treat, and seeing her stay in-state to play professionally is a huge win for the program. She’s joined by former UW star Sis Bates, so the middle of that infield is going to be a defensive masterclass. It’s a great example of the "Oregon-to-Pro" pipeline that Coach Lombardi is building. Tracking "Version Eight" (2026 Season)Back in Eugene, Coach Lombardi is in her 8th season, and the data on this squad is fascinating. She’s calling this group "Version Eight," and from my vantage point in the Arizona desert, the hardware looks solid: The Rotation: We returned nearly the entire staff from last year’s WCWS run. Lyndsey Grein and Elise Sokolsky are our veteran "operators." They have the experience to handle the high-stress calls. The Sophomore Class: I’m keeping a close eye on the "Young Guns"—Rylee McCoy, Kaylynn Jones, and Stefani Ma'ake. They were massive as freshmen, and if they avoid the "sophomore slump" bug, this lineup will be lethal. The New Shortstop: With Sinicki moving on to the pros, I’m watching Addison Amaral (the Notre Dame transfer) very closely. Filling Sinicki’s shoes is a tall order, but Amaral has the range to make it happen. The Big Ten schedule is going to be a gauntlet, but the "fancies" (stats) suggest this team is built for a deep June run. I’ll be monitoring the box scores and sharing my analysis as the season heats up. Go Ducks!

Version Eight: My Thoughts on Coach Lombardi’s 8th SeasonNow that I’ve introduced myself, I want to dive into what I’m seeing on the diamond. As I mentioned, I’m a bit of a geek for the data, and Coach Melyssa Lombardi’s 8th season is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing "builds" we’ve seen in Eugene. Last year’s "Version Seven" was a breakthrough, taking us back to the Women’s College World Series and proving we could compete at the highest level in the Big Ten. But as Lombardi says, every year is a "start from scratch" project. The "Frequencies" I’m Monitoring:The Power in the Circle: We returned nearly our entire pitching staff from last year’s WCWS run. Having Lyndsey Grein and Elise Sokolsky back is like having two veteran dispatchers on the desk—they know how to handle the pressure. Grein is a workhorse, and I’m watching to see if our bullpen depth can help keep her fresh for June. The Sophomore Surge: I’ve been crunching the numbers on our "Young Guns"—Rylee McCoy, Kaylynn Jones, and Stefani Ma'ake. They were massive as freshmen, but the "sophomore slump" is a real bug in the system. So far, McCoy’s power at first base looks like it’s only getting better. The New Connections: Replacing the speed of the Luschar sisters and the glove of Paige Sinicki at short was a tall order. I’m keeping a close eye on the transfers, specifically Addison Amaral (Notre Dame) at shortstop. She’s got big shoes to fill, but the data from her time in South Bend suggests she’s up to the task. Elise Sokolsky Early Season Sit-RepWe’ve had an up-and-down start with some tough losses in the early tournaments (that game against Auburn was a glitch in the system!), but we’ve also knocked off some top-25 teams like Duke and Liberty. To me, that shows the "Version Eight" hardware is capable; we just need to optimize the software before conference play heats up. I’ll be posting regular updates as we move toward the home opener at Jane Sanders Stadium. I’d love to hear from any of you who are attending games in person—give me the "eye test" to go along with my stats! Go Ducks!

From the OSP Dispatch Desk to the Sonora Desert: A Duck Fan’s LogHello FishDuck community! oregonjoneses checking in from the heat of Florence, Arizona. At 76 years young, I’m a bit of a desert-dwelling geek. After 25 years in Oregon—including 12 years working the consoles at the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center—I’ve traded the rainy Willamette Valley for the cacti of the Sonora. While my professional life was spent navigating the frequencies and logistics of the OSP, my heart remains firmly in Eugene. The Origin StoryMy "fandom firmware" was first installed back in the 7th grade at Waldo Junior High in Salem. My basketball coach, Mr. Dickey, hard-wired my loyalty by organizing a three-day trek to Mac Court for the Oregon High School Championships. Seeing that magic on the sunken floors as a kid changed my life. Since then, my wife and I made it an annual tradition to attend the Spring Football games. We would always make a weekend of it, staying up at Belknap Hot Springs to soak and enjoy the river before heading into Autzen. Those are memories I carry with me even in the Arizona heat. Current Project: Softball Stats & InsightsWhile I love my Football and Baseball (I’m a regular at PK Park when I can get there), my primary focus right now is on the diamond. We are heading into Coach Lombardi’s 8th season leading the Women’s Softball team. Just like my days at the dispatch center, I like to keep a close eye on all the moving parts. I’m currently processing the data and getting ready to share regular updates and information on the squad. I truly believe this 8th season is going to be something special. I may be living in the desert now, but my blood still runs green and yellow. I’m looking forward to connecting with you all! Go Ducks!